Gallery Custom Links vs MetaSlider (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Gallery Plugins top 10: Gallery Custom Links at #9 and MetaSlider at #2. MetaSlider leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Gallery Custom Links
Gallery Custom Links allows you to link images to a specified URL. Tested with WordPress Gallery, Gutenberg, the Meow Gallery and others.
MetaSlider
Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider – Image Slider, Video Slider
Slider, gallery, carousel plugin for WordPress. Build your image slider, video slider, post slider, YouTube slider, or WooCommerce product slider.
Who leads on what
MetaSlider leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
MetaSlider ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #9 in Gallery Plugins.
MetaSlider has more users: 500,000+ active installs against 30,000+.
Gallery Custom Links is rated higher: 4.7 out of 5 from 206 reviews, against 4.6 from 738 reviews.
MetaSlider has more reviews behind its score: 738 against 206.
MetaSlider was updated more recently, on August 31, 2026; Gallery Custom Links on August 20, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Gallery Custom Links
Pick Gallery Custom Links if the review score matters most to you.
MetaSlider
Pick MetaSlider if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Gallery Custom Links vs MetaSlider side by side
| Gallery Custom Links | MetaSlider | |
|---|---|---|
| Gallery Plugins ranking | #9 | #2 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.6 |
| Reviews | 206 | 738 |
| Active installs | 30,000+ | 500,000+ |
| Total downloads | 1,026,630 | 35,201,960 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 20, 2026 | Aug 31, 2026 |
| First published | Nov 28, 2018 | Feb 15, 2013 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 8.1 | 7.0 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free + paid version |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Gallery Custom Links ratings
MetaSlider ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither Gallery Custom Links nor MetaSlider can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Gallery Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Gallery Custom Links vs MetaSlider: common questions
Is Gallery Custom Links better than MetaSlider?
MetaSlider leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. MetaSlider ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #9 in Gallery Plugins.
Which has more users, Gallery Custom Links or MetaSlider?
MetaSlider ranks higher on WordPress.org: #2 against #9 in Gallery Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Gallery Custom Links or MetaSlider?
MetaSlider has more users: 500,000+ active installs against 30,000+.
Are Gallery Custom Links and MetaSlider free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Gallery Custom Links may also sell a paid version or add-ons. MetaSlider is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to Gallery Custom Links and MetaSlider
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.